JUDGMENT

N. P. SINGH, J.:- Leave granted.

2. The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission), is the appellant in these appeals, against a common judgment of the High Court passed in several writ petitions filed by the respondents, questioning the validity of an order, issued by the Commission raising the period of practice as an Advocate from five years to seven and half years while calling applicants for interview, for appointments against the posts of Presiding Officers of the Labour Courts.

3. An advertisement was issued inviting applications for appointment, to the post of Presiding Officers of the Labour Courts constituted under the provisions of M. P. Industrial Relations Act, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). Nine posts of such Presiding Officers had to be filled up, out of which only four posts were available to the general category candidates. (In) pursuance to the advertisement, several applications were received. In view of Section 8(3)(c) of the Act in the advertisement it was prescribed that the applicant should have practised as an Advocate or a pleader for a total period of not less than five years. It appears that in